Lewis Jackson Sr., 58, took 156 loggerhead sea turtle eggs from nests on Sapelo in May. When seized from Jackson, the eggs were packaged in a manner indicating they would be sold to others. Loggerhead eggs, a purported aphrodisiac, sell for as much as $15 each on the black market.

Commercially exploiting a protected species — loggerheads are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act — is a violation of the federal Lacey Act.

Law enforcement officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources knew they had a problem on Sapelo, said Mark Dodd, the DNR wildlife biologist who coordinates the monitoring of sea turtle nesting in the state.

“It’s not a huge problem but it has been a persistent issue on Sapelo for years,” Dodd said. “(Law enforcement) did a spectacular job. They spent many long hours on the beach and figured out a pattern and then apprehended him.”

K-9 Officer Ranger 1st Class Tim Hutto and K-9 Officer Gauge, who has been trained to detect wildlife items, intercepted the Sapelo ferry when it arrived in Meridian on May 27. The dog alerted on the duffle bag and the sea turtle eggs were discovered inside. The eggs were not viable.

A black market for sea turtle eggs exists mainly in cities with large Caribbean populations, among whom the eggs developed their reputation as an aphrodisiac, Dodd said.

“It comes from the fact that loggerheads can be seen mating for long periods of time in parts of the Caribbean islands so people there developed the myth that it enhances your ability,” he said.

DNR turned over the case to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jackson pled guilty in United States District Court, Southern District of Georgia with Judge Lisa Godbey Wood presiding.

Edward Grace, Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement, Headquarters, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service praised the cooperation between DNR and his agency.

“We take very seriously our mission to support our state counterpart wildlife enforcement agencies and we will continue to concentrate on and aggressively pursue individuals who are involved in the illegal trade of protected species of wildlife.”

Jackson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. The date for Jackson’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Theft from sea turtle nests on Sapelo had interfered with research there aimed at how best to protect the nests, Dodd said. After a steep decline, loggerheads populations in Georgia have begun to show a slow recovery.

“We’re in the business of trying to recover loggerheads so it’s nice put this item to rest and make sure this guy understands what he did was not helpful to our recovery efforts,” Dodd said.